The Long and Winding Road (Celebration Half Marathon)

This is NOT a humblebrag. I’m shaking my head as much as you are at the fact that I was able to smash my half marathon PR last week — without doing much training, having a plan going into the course or even really trying.

It happened just six weeks after I PR’d the same distance, following months of intense training, speedwork, a specific pace plan and an all-out sprint at the OUC Half Marathon. I ran so hard that I thought I’d never make that mark again. And since I’d hit my goal, I decided to give myself the gift of a more relaxed training schedule going into my next race.

It was the perfect end to a perfect run. I loved the course — even the twisting, winding boardwalks that covered about two miles of the race — and the view. The spectators were amazing and perhaps most importantly: there were plenty of porta-potties and water stations.

Speaking of spectators, I was thrilled that my mom was able to come watch me — she traveled from Maine to spend a long weekend with us and she, Lucas and the baby all got up at the crack of dawn to ride down with me. They’re pretty awesome.

My fifth half marathon was my best and my favorite and I would love to do the race again next year.

I’ve had a few questions from people wondering what I’ve been doing to train and to get faster, and I’m going to work on a new series sharing some of those tips, as well as how I fit it all into my schedule. Is there anything you want to know?

About Katy

Katy Widrick is a multimedia producer and online marketing consultant at MakeMediaOver.com. A NASM-certified personal trainer and AFAA-certified group exercise instructor, she writes about healthy living in a hectic world -- a balance between fitness and friendships, all built through social media. But her favorite job is mom to two beautiful girls.